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Mass of Thanksgiving to be Celebrated for Newly Beatified Founder of Sisters of the Redeemer

A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated in honor of Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger, founder of the Sisters of the Redeemer, who was beatified earlier this month.

Upon review of the life and good works of Mother Alphonse, Pope Francis attributed a healing miracle that took place on May 29, 1955 to her intercession. The acceptance of the authenticity of this miracle officially closed a long period of study of her heroic virtues necessary for beatification.

Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia will be the principal celebrant of the Mass of Thanksgiving.

About Venerable Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger

Venerable Mother Alphonse Maria was born Elisabeth Eppinger on September 9, 1814 in the province of Alsace-Lorraine in France. Her rural village of Niederbronn, which means “small spring”, witnessed many hardships. Most of the sick suffered at home – isolated and without proper care.

Elisabeth’s heart was moved with compassion by her personal experience of such conditions and their effect on human lives. She readily identified the suffering of people with the suffering of Jesus. Her one desire was to relieve the worries which overwhelm people during times of poverty and illness, by providing the means for health and wellness. This enabled them to experience God’s redeeming love.

Elisabeth also desired to become a religious. However, few active communities shared her special vision of combining religious life with care of the sick poor in their homes. This radical concept would cause her to become not only a pioneer in the field of health care, but also a visionary in religious life. On August 28, 1849, with the support of her spiritual adviser, Father Jean-David Reichard, Elisabeth founded her own congregation named to honor Jesus Christ the Redeemer. On the 10th of September that year she received the habit and was given the name Mother Alphonse Maria.

Through the labor and love of Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger and her Sisters in the years that followed, the Congregation was called to serve throughout Eastern Europe. Today the Sisters and their partners in mission across six continents live the legacy of Elisabeth Eppinger. They express the healing presence of Jesus in a suffering world, through the ministries of health care, social services and education.

About The Sisters of the Redeemer

The Sisters of the Redeemer is an international congregation of religious women, with communities in the United States, Germany and Tanzania. The Motherhouse is located in Wuerzburg, Germany. Locally, the Sisters, through their ministries which include Holy Redeemer Health System, serve Southeastern Pennsylvania and several counties in New Jersey.